AS the nation’s Jubilee celebrations draw closer, Dorset marked the occasion with a county-wide church service in Wimborne yesterday.

The Dorset County Service to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen was held at Wimborne Minster and saw children from six schools take part alongside dignitaries from around the county.

Pupils carried 60 candles – one for each year of the Queen’s reign – into the Minster for the service and they were laid out in a diamond formation.

The service was attended by Dorset’s Lord Lieutenant, Valerie Pitt-Rivers, as well as by civic leaders from across the county and Members of Parliament.

The event was open to the public as well and was relayed on speakers to the green outside the Minster.

Those in the congregation heard singing from the Minister Choir, who were joined by the Band of the Royal Signals for the special occasion.

The service was conducted by the Rector of Wimborne Minster, the Rev Vanessa Herrick.

She told the Daily Echo after the service: “Overwhelmingly it was a message of thanksgiving for the Queen’s service over 60 years.

“That was reflected with the people represented and the diversity of the people there from around Dorset and also in the attendance of the schoolchildren.”

The Bishop of Salisbury, The Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam, gave the address and the Bishop of Sherborne, The Right Reverend Dr Graham Kings, led the prayers.